Locking handle with adjustable safety collar



Nov. 18, 1924. y 1,516,287

L. W. GATES LOCKING HANDLE WITH ADJUSTABLE SAFETY COLLAR Filed Dec, 4, 1923 Ew i f n Inventor f gaf/225) Cal Patented Nov. 18, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS W. lGATES, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO C. COWLES & COMPANY, OF HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT;

LOCKING HANDLE WITH ADJUSTABLE SAFETY COLLAR.

Application led December 4, 1923. Serial No. 678,385.

To all whom t may concer/n.:

Be it known thatI, LOUIS W. GATES, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Haven, county of New Haven, State of Connecticut, have invented new and useful Locking Handles with Adjustable Safety Collars, of which the following is a speciication.- 'i

This invention relates to latch operating handles, especially to a locking handle for vehicle doors, and has for an object to provide` an improved handle of this type which may have an angular adjustment with respect to the escutcheon when applied to the door should the surface of the door be in-y clined tol the axis of the spindle.

y It is also an object of the invention to provide an improved locking means for the handle and spindle which will be very simple in construction and easily assembled,

`and in which the machining operations required in manufacturing are reduced to a minimum. i

yIt is a further object of the invention to provide a door handle and spindle which cannot be removed from the door` when the handle is locked, so that even. should an unauthorized person remove the securing screws for the escutcheon still the handle and the escutcheon cannot be removed from the door until the handle is unlocked.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, I have devised the'construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, similar reference characters being employed throughout the various 'figures to indicate corresponding elements. In this drawing,

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal central section through a door handle embodying my invention, showing it as applied to a door, the elements being in the position they occupy when the handle is locked.

Fig. 2 is a, longitudinal section taken at. rightangles to the plane of the section of Fig. 1, the section being substantially on line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detailed transverse section substantially on line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. L1 is a transverse section substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section substantially on line 5 5 of Fig 1.

Fig. 6 is a transverse section substantially on line 6 6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a transverse section substantially on line 7 7 of Fig 1.

Fig. 8 is a section of the outer4 portion of the handle and shank substantially on the sameplane as Fig. 1 but showing the elements in the position to allow removal of the locking means from the handle.

Fig. 9 is a transverse section similar to Fig. 3 showing a slightly different construction, and

Fig. 10 is an elevation of a key adapted for use with this device. l 4

Figs. 3 to 10 inclusive are drawn to a smaller scale than Figs. l and 2. y

.In the drawing, I have indicated at 10 a section of a door, such as an automobile door, having an opening 11 therethrough'for passage of the usual latch operating spindle 12. The latch is not `shown as it forms no part of my invention. The surface of lthe door is covered with the usual sheet steel covering 13 which has an opening 14 for passage of the latch operating spindle and also openings 15 for the securing screws 16 for the escutcheon 17. This escutcheon may be of any shape desired but is preferably oblong, as shown in Figs. l and 5 and is also preferably stamped from sheet metal, although, of course, it may be cast if desired.

Mounted to rotate in this escutcheon is the shank 18 of the handle 19 to which shank the spindle 12 is connected. The handle, spindle and escutcheon when assembled form a unitary construction which is applied to the door as a complete assembly. The shank comprises a tubular element which is preferably. a piece of brass tubing as it requires less careful machining because this tubing may be secured with ythe longitudinal opening 20 accurate to size. This is important when applying the lock mechanism presently to be described.

The handle preferably comprises a metal cross bar 21 secured to the tube 18, tbc tube extending through this bar and is. iushed at its opposite ends by the ferrules 22. Carried by the shank at a distance from this cross bar is a stop collar 23. In finishing, the portion of the shank between this collar and the cross bar and also the cross bar between the ferrules is covered with hard rubber 24 which is applied in a plastic condition and hardened by vulcanizing. The collar 23 is provided with van annular groove 25 adapted to engage the laterally extending the surface of the door not be at right ancollar 23 tightly against the outer surface l projected from thel side of the shank the -end of the bolt is adapted to seat in any'` one gles to the axis of the shank the escutcheon may assume a position u'sh with'this surface. l

Mounted within the eseutcheon on the opposite side from the collar 23 is an embossed steel locking plate 28, and as shown in Fig. 4, this plate is shaped to substantially fit the curvature of the side flanges 29 of the escutcheon so that this plate is held within the escutcheon and cannot rotate therein. This locking plate is` provided with an inwardly. extending lug or tongue 30 projecting through an opening 31 in the steel covering 13 of the door which will prevent rotation of this.. plate and also of the escutcheon on the door. Carried by the shank inwardly of the lockingv plate is a: stop collar 32 which is spaced' suiii'cient'ly from the locking plate to allow mounting of a sheet metal spring 33 between this collar and the plate.. The stop collar is' rigidly secured to the shank by any suitable means,

such as solder 34, and the spring 33 reacting against this collar tends to hold the of the escutcheon, but allows rotary movement of the shank in this escutoheon. The spring also takes up any wear which may occur after long continued use and always maintains the shank tight so that there can be no rattlinga In one side of the opening 14 of the covering 13 of the door is a notch 35, and the collar 32 has a laterally projecting lug 36 adapted to pass through this notch and then to move laterally .from the notch and en-I gage the rear surface of the covering plate 13, the door being provided with a recess 37 to allow this movement. Thus under certain conditions, which will be described `under operation, the spindle is held against removal from'the door.

Within the escutcheon the shank 18 is provided with5transverse openings 38 in which is slidably mounted a' locking bolt 39, this bolt being of no'greater length than the diameter of the shank so'that it may be wholly withdrawn into the shank. Whenof a series of notches 40 provided in the locking plate 28, these notches being preferably positioned. ninety degrees from each other. To increase the bearing surface for the bolt in the locking plate a tubular Han ve 41 is formed on this plate embracingLt e shank, in which ange the notches 40 are formed. Mounted within the passage or opening 2O in the shank 18 is a tubular member 42, preferably a piece of brass tubing as it may be bought in proper size and does not require accurate finishing. This tubular member is provided with. transverse openings 42 in alignment withthe openings 38 in the shank so that the bolt also slides in these openings. Mounted to rotate in the tubular member 42 is a cylinder 44 provided a't its inner end with an eccentrically mounted stud or pin 45 adapted to seat in a notch or groove 46 in the bolt 39, so that as this cylinder is rotated the end of the may be retracted into the spindle or shankv to unlock it,

For controlling the operation. of this cylinder it is bored from its outer end as shown at 47, and the cylinder and the tubular inemv ber 42 areprovided with aligned openings 48 and 49 respectively, in which `are seated securing elements, such as the balls 50. For controlling these balls there is mounted in theI bore 47 a longitudinally` slidable elei ment 51 which is flat von its opposite sides and has recesses 52 adapted toreceive the balls 50, the sides of these recesses being inclined to form c am surfaces for forcing the balls outwardly under certain conditions. Secured to the inner end of the element 51 is a circular disc 53 to form a guide forthis element in the bore of the cylinder and also to provide a bearing for the end of the spring 54 which engages at its opposite end at the bottom of the boreso that this spring always tends to force the element -51 outwardly andV hold the balls 50 in the openings 49. At its outer end the element 51 is provided witha pin 55 to engage in a notch 5G in theend of the key 57 (see Fig. 10), and

fthe cylinder 44 is provided lin its end on opposite sides of the pin 5,5 with a pair of vnotches 58 to receive the end of the key on opposite sides o f the-notches- `56 whereby the cylinder may be rotated to slide the bolt 39.

Mounted in the opening 20 outwardly of the end of the cylinder is a key alignment bushing 59. This bushing has a flange 60 provided with notches 61 through which the key is adapted t'o passl and is positioned so that when ,the key is in proper position to rotate the cylinder the flange 60 is in alignment with the notches 62 in the sides of the key. Thus the keyfcanv bejremoved.

-be inserted in the tubular element 18 with the openings 43 and 38 in alignment and then the bolt 39 inserted in these openings. The bolt will then secure the member 42 ragainst removal from the member 18. The

cylinder 44 maythen be inserted from the outer end ot' the element 18 and the pin 45 inserted in the slot 46, the cylinder being inserted with the spring 54, cam element 51 and balls 50 in the position shown in Fig. 8 until the balls 50 come into alignment with the openings 49 in the element 18, as

` shown in Fig. 2, when the cylinder will be 31in theplate 13.

held against rotary movement, and lit will also be held against removal from the tilbular member 42. The key alignment bushing 59 is then properly positioned in the passagef2() and the ferrule 63 inserted in the outer end. The handle and shank-are now ready to be mounted in the escutcheon. The shank is inserted through the opening 27 with collar 23 engaging the outer surface of the spherical portion 26, the locking plate 28 is placedr in position in the escutcheon, the spring 33 placed on the shank and then the stop collar 32 secured in the proper position against this spring. This collar is permanently fastened onto the shank as by soldering. It will be noted that the handle, the escutcheon and the locki means is now a complete assembly and may e applied as a whole to the door.

In applying the handle to the door the spindle 12 is inserted through the opening 11 into the latch operating mechanism, not shown, and is moved inwardly until the lug 36 engages the surface of the plate 13, the bolt 39 being infthe unlocked position so that the shank may rotate relative to the escutcheon. rI`he handle is then rotated a partial revolution to the right or clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 3, and against the action of the spring in the latch until the lug 36 is in alignment with the notch 35 in the plate 13. The esciitclieon is also rotated to bring the lug 30 into alignment with the opening tion or the operator may give'it'this move- Anient to bring the lug 36 to a position back n 'Ihe assembly is then. -forced inwardly to bring the rear edge of the escutcheon flush with the surface of the' of the plate 13 out of alignment with the sembly may now be secured to the door by means of the screws 16 passing through the escutcheon. If the surface of the door is not at right angles to the axis of the spindle the escutcheon may rock angularly to assume the proper position flush with the surface of the door. The handle is now in position and may be rotated to operate the latch in the usual mannei'.

In order to lock the handle against rotation all that is necessary is to insert the key 57 through the slot 64 and notches 61 until its end on opposite sides of the notch 56 is seated in the notches 58 in the end of the cyl-inder 44. This movement will also slide the member 51 inwardly as the end of the pin 55 engages the bottom of notch 56, and these elements are so proportioned that when in this position the cam element 51 is pushed inwardly against the action of spring 54 until the recesses 52, are in alignnient. with the balls 50. The/inward movement of the key is limited by engagement of the end of the key against the bottoms of notches 58 in the outer end of cylinder 44. The depth of these notches, the depth of notch 56 in the end of the key and the length of pin 55 are so proportioned that when the end of i the key engages the bottoms of notches 58 the recesses 52 are in alignment with openings 48. These balls may then move inwardly out of the openings 49 and the cylinder 44 may be rotated by turning the key. It requires a. half revolution of the key and the cylinder to advance the bolt 39 into one of the notches 40 in the locking plate 28. In this position the balls 50 are again in alignment with the openings 49 and it' the key is withdrawn the spring 54 will ymove the cam clement 51 outwardly and the inclined surfaces of the recesses 52 will force the balls 50 into the openings 49, as shown in Fig. 2. The cylinder 44 is not locked against rotation and the bolt 39 is heldin locking position. If it is desired to unlock the spindle, insertion of the key as described above will again allow the balls l 50 to move inwardly from the openings 49 and allow rotation of the cylinder 44, which through the eccentric pin 45 will retract the bolt into the shank and unlock it from the escutclieon.

Assuming that the owner has left his caiwith the door locked, in which case the elements would be in the position shown in Figs. 1 to 7. If now an unauthorized person should attempt to gain access to the car by removing the screws 16, as the-spindle, is locked against rotation it cannot be withdrawn from the latch. rIhis is because even though the screws 16 are removed the handle cannot be rotated because it is locked to the plate28 and this plate cannot rotate ber'notch 35, as shown in Fig. 3. The whole as- 1 v. le

cause the tongue 30 extends through the opening 31 in the steel plate 13. Therefore,

i surface of the plate 13 it will prevent with-- drawal of the handle. Thus this handle is just as secure against ope-ration by an un- '.authorized yperson when the screws 16 are removed a/s when they are in position. An vauthorized person may, however, easily re- Jmove the handle from the door if desired. All that is necessary is to unlock the handle from the escutcheon by' retracting the bolt 39. Then even though the p'late'28 and es- 15 cutcheon 17 cannot be rotated relative to the door the shank may, however, be turned to bring the lug 36 into the alignment with the notch when by pullingoutwardly on the handle the whole assembly may be removed from the door. Y

In the showing of Figs. 1, 2 and 3 I have used the usual sheet metal covering 13 which is secured to the door by suitable means, not shown, as the means for coacting with the plate 28 and the lug 36 for preventing .removal of the handle when this handle is locke/d. It may be, however, that a door 4might-not be provided with thisI covering or itis not desired to go to the trouble of".

cuttingthe notch 35 in this plate. Under these conditions I provide a separate plate '67 (Fig. 9) which is secured to the surface of the door under the escutcheon, the flange of the escutcheon being shown in dotted l, lines. This plate is also secured to the surface of the door by means independent of the securing means for the escutcheon, but as this is a small plate these securing means are located where they are inaccessible. I have t shown screws 68 for ,this purpose which are out of alignment with the screws 16 and are covered by the escutcheon. This plate has an opening 14 corresponding to the opening 14 in the plate 13 through which 45 the shank extends and it has the notch 35 in one edge of this-opening corresponding to the notch 35. The plate also has an opening 31 corresponding to the opening 31 in the plate 13 to receive the tongue 30 to prevent rotation of theescutcheon the same as in the first form. The operation of this plate. is exactly the same as in the `rst form, the lug 36 engaging behind the plate 67 when the handle is locked to prevent Lwithdrawal of this handle from the door.

If for any reason it should bedesired 'to remove the locking mechanism from the handle this may be done, as shown 'in Fig. 8. AFirst the errule 63 and the key positioning bushing 59 are removed. The key is then inserted in the notches 58 in the end of the, cylinder 44 which will force the cam element 51 inwardly to allow the balls 50 to' move 'from the openings 49. The key may f now be turned a quarter revolution which will bring the balls half way between the openings 49. This is the position shown in Fig. 8. The key may then be withdrawn and a suitable tool inserted to withdraw the cylinder 44, it being apparent that in this position the cylinder is not locked to the tubular member 42.

It will be apparent Vfrom the foregoing description that the handle including the lock mechanism and Ythe escutcheon may be applied to the door as a complete assembly, that the escutcheon may rock angularly with respect to the axis of the spindle so that it vwill -lie iush with the surface of the door,

that wear incident to continued operation will be automatically taken up so that the device will not work loose and rattle, land thatwhen the handle is-locked it cannot be removed from thedoor even though the escutcheon securing screws are removed.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination, a handle including a `tubular element having .a transverse opening, atubular member in said element having openings in alignment with the rst m-entioned opening, a bolt slidable in 'said openings, a cylinder rotatably mounted in the tubular member, an operative connection between the bolt and cylinder, cooperative locking means carried by the cylinder and tubular member to lock the cylinder against rotation, means whereby the locking means may be released, and a stationar securing element adapted to coact with the bolt to secure the handle against rotation. f

2. In combination, a handle including a tubular .element having a transverseopening, a tubular member in said element having openings in alignment with the first mentioned openinga bolt slidable in said openings, a cylinder rotatabl mounted in the tubularmember, an operative connection between the bolt and cylinder, said tubular member being also provided with one or more additional openings, one or more later ally movable securing elements carried by the cylinder and adapted to seat in saidr between the bolt and cylinder, said tubular member being provided with additional openings, laterally7 movable securing elements carried by said cylinder and adapted to seat in said openings, and a slidable key controlled element having cam surfaces for moving said securing elements into said openings and retaining them therein.

4. In combination, a handle including a tubular element having a transverse opening, a tubular member in said element having openings in alignment with the rst mentioned openings, a bolt slidable in said openings, a cylinder rotatably mounted in the tubular member, an operative connection between the bolt and cylinder, said tubular member being, provided withy additional openings, laterally movable balls carried by said cylinder and adapted to seat in said openings, an elementslidable in said cylinder having cam surfaces adapted to move the balls into said openings and retain them therein, a spring tending to hold said element in locking position, and means carried by said element adapted to coact With a key to release said balls. i

5. In a latch operating handle, a shank, an escutcheon embracing said shank, means for securing said escutcheon to a door, a plate carried by said escutcheon and provided with one or more notches, a movable element carried by said shank and movable to and from engagement with said notches,

to lock the shank against rotation, and key controlled means for operating said element.

6. In a latch operating handle, a shank, an escutcheon embracing said shank, means for securing said escutcheon to a door, said escutcheon being provided with a domeshaped lateral extension, a collar carried by the shank engaging the outer surface of said extension, a plate carried by the escutcheon on the opposite side from said collar pro.- vided with one or more notches, a movable securing element carried by the shank and adapted to engage one of said notches to secure the shank against rotation, and key controlled means for operating said securing element.

7. In a latch operating handle, a shank, an escutcheon embracingsaid shank, means for securing said escutcheon to a door, said escutcheon Vbeing provided with a domeshaped lateral extension, a collar carried by the shank engaging the ,outer surface of said extension, a plate carried by the escutcheon on the opposite side from said collar provided With one or more notches, a second c ollar secured to the shank on the opposite side of said plate from the escutcheon, a

l spring between the plate and said second collar, a movable securing element carried ,by the shank and adapted to engage one of said notches to secure the shank against rotation, and key controlled means for operating said securing element.

8. In combination, a door, an escutcheon, a latch operating spindle mounted in said escutcheon, means for locking the spindle to prevent operation of the latch, means for securing the escutcheon to the door, andindependent means for securing the spindle to the door when the spindle is locked.

9. In combination, a door, an escutcheon, a latch operating spindle mounted in` said escutcheon, means for locking the spindle to prevent operation of the latch, means for securing the escutcheon to the door, and independent means for securing the spindle to the door When the spindle is locked, said latter means adapted to be released by moving the spindle to release the latch.

lO. In combination, a door, an escutcheon, a latch operating spindle mounted in said escutcheon, means Jfor locking the spindle to prevent operation of the latch, means for securing the escutcheon to the door, and cooperating means carried by the door and spindle arranged to prevent removal of the spindle When the latch is in securing position but to allow removal of the spindle When the latch is in releasing position.

11. In combination, a door, an escutcheon, a latch operating spindle mounted in said escutcheon, means for locking the spindle to prevent operation of the latch, screws for securing the escutcheon and the spindle to the door, andA independent means for securing the spindle to the door When said spindle is locked.

l2. In combination, a door, an escutcheon, a latch operating spindle mounted to rotate in said escutcheon, coacting means carried by the escutcheon and spindle adapted to lock the spindle against rotation, means for securing the escutcheon to the door, coacting means carriedby the door and escutcheon adapted to prevent rotationV of the escutcheon should said securing means be removed, and coacting means carried by 'the door and the spindle adapted to prevent removal of the spindle when said spindle is locked.

In combination, a door, an escutcheon, a latchoperating spindle mounted to rotate in said escutcheon, coacting means carried by the escutcheon and Spindle adapted to lock the spindle against rotation, means for of the spindle When the spindle is unlocked.-

14. In combination, a door, an escutcheon, means for securing the escutcheon to the door, a plate between the escutcheon and the door, means for securing the plate to the door independent of the escutcheon securing means, a latch operating spindle mounted to rotate in said escutcheon, a', locking plate carried by said escutcheon, co-

operating means carried by the locking plate.'

and the first mentioned plate adapted to prevent turning movement of the escutcheon should its securing means be removed,means for locking the spindle against rotation in the escutcheon, and cooperative means carried by the first mentioned plate and the spindle adapted to prevent removal of the spindle from the door when the spindle is locked. l

.15.,In combination, a door, a plate secured to the door, an escutcheon secured over said plate, a latch operating spindle n mounted to rotate in said escutcheon, a locking plate carried by `said escutcheon, said locking plate'having a projection adapted to engage said first mentioned plate to prevent rotation of thelocking plate, cooperating means carried by the locking plate and l'the spindle for locking the spindle against rotation, and a lug carried by the spindle adapted to engage the rear of the first mentioned plate when said spindle is locked.

t 16. In combination, a door, a plate secured to the door, an escutcheon secured to the door over said plate, a latch operating spindle mounted to rotate in said escutcheon, said plate having-an opening for passage of said spindle with a notch in one edge of said opening, a locking plate carried by. said spindle, cooperating means carried by the first mentionedplate and the locking plate F to prevent rotation of the locking plate, co-

operating locking means carried by the locking plate and the spindle adapted to lock the spindle against rotation, and a laterally proj ecting lug carried by the spindle adapted to I engage the rear of the rst mentioned plate, sald lug being out of alignment with the means carried bythe shank on the inner side of said locking plate, a resilient element between the stop means and the plate, said escutcheon and shank being adapted for vrelative angular movement, and locking means carried by the shank and adapted to engage said rotation.

18. In combination, a/ door, an escutcheon,.

means for securing the escutcheon to the door, a latch operating means including a shank extending through said escutcheon, said shank, and escutcheonbeing adapted for relative angular and also relative rotary fmovements, cooperating means carried by the shank and the escutcheon'adapted to lock the shank against rotation, cooperating means carried by the door and the escutcheon tov prevent rotation of the escutcheon, and cooperative means carried bythe door and the shank adapted to prevent removal of the shank from the door whenf the shank is locked to the escutcheon.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

j Louis W. GATES.

plate to secure the shank against 

